Facing Heatwaves and Warming Conditions in the Mediterranean Region

Abstract

This research deals with the way to approach Climate-Ready buildings, from the analysis of monitored residential buildings to the literature review of different case studies and their passive measures. Different case studies located in Pamplona, Madrid and Alicante in Spain, being flats or houses, with or without air conditioning, and with different occupants’ profile, have been monitored during heatwaves or severe heat conditions. Also, a specific review of measures for climate change in Mediterranean dwellings has been undertaken. The upper floor (especially where bedrooms are located) in new or refurbished buildings appears to be overheated or has the highest cooling consumptions, which highlights the need for much more research in design and constructive solutions of roofs. The location of Cool Retreats in dwellings is also highlighted, whether with or without air conditioning, and the importance of the active role of occupants and their adaptation to the dwelling is also stressed.

Keywords

Notes

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for financing the project ‘Performance Buildings Envelope Rehabilitation Protocol (prestaRener)’ through BIA 2012-38666. Special thanks to Jorge San Miguel and Ana Castillejo, who carried out the monitoring of social housing in Pamplona in 2016 summer, as part of the project prestaRener. Thanks to Ainhoa Arriazu Ramos and to the University of Navarra to grant her research titled Resilience of the Built Environment to the Climate Change in the Southern European Region. An initial Review. We also want to recognize the assistance on heatwaves to Cesar Rodriguez Ballesteros from AEMET and Marta Gomez Revuelto from Meteo Navarra, and to Sergi Segura from Avamet, who has provided us with climate data from Alicante. Ultimately, special thanks to all dwellers, who have so kindly facilitated the monitoring of their homes.